Letters to the Editor

Wrong message sent on solar contract

This article left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. It is great to see the greening of Balboa Park through the use of alternative/green technologies and also to see some of the federal stimulus money flowing down to projects here in San Diego. However, wouldn't it have been sweeter to read that the contracting company awarded the business was a local solar company, or at least a California enterprise?

There are so many innovative green businesses in San Diego that are continuing to innovate despite the lack of credit and tight funding and remain committed to providing local jobs and innovative technologies to our region. What message does this send when our mayor announces that we are going outside the region for a partner to implement such a high-profile project? Surely these actions conflict with all the political talk about supporting local businesses to turn the San Diego region into a clean-technology powerhouse.

HEATHER SHEPARD
San Diego

Lost confidence in Chula Vista leaders

In reference to Port Commissioner Mike Najera being asked to resign because Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox “has Lost confidence in your ability to get the bayfront done” (“Port rep: Mayor wants me out,” Our Region, May 6). Is it safe to say that the residents of Chula Vista have lost confidence with this mayor and certain City Council members and that maybe they should also resign? It's time to throw the bums out.

RICHARD GONZALES
Chula Vista

Government and our narcissistic ways

I disagree with columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr.'s “Putting themselves first” (Opinion, May 3). The idea that American narcissism and an entitlement mentality may have caused the current financial crisis is unfounded and poorly supported. It is true that many Americans live by the “me mentality.” Having recently graduated from college, I have been witness to this on a daily basis: Students showing up to class late, demanding extra credit and then screaming injustice when they do not get their way. I've also seen this mentality in my fellow peers; many, even with college degrees, have yet to find a job.

But this toxic, overconfident “me mentality” is nothing new. I would argue that it is in our nature to be self-centered and to take more resources for ourselves. We live in a country and culture that values competition and capitalistic principles. There are the haves and have nots, and we all want to be among the haves. That being said, it can be reasoned that this mentality has always been present in the American psych. So the real question is: Why did the financial crisis happen now?

I would argue that we have allowed America to become too human. We have allowed our people to embrace their inner beast and thereby destroy all institutions to which our society has relied upon. There is no escaping the fact that humans are naturally selfish. What we can do is use the government to keep our natural narcissistic mentality in check.

MICHELLE McNAMARA
University City

Governor fuels debate on legalizing pot

Regarding “Governor: Legalizing pot should be debated” (News, May 6):

I am appalled the governor would consider a debate on legalizing yet another drug for the sake of taxing it to raise revenue to help cover our annual budget deficits. I'm not going to teach my children, “We need money now to cover our annual budget deficit so let's support legalizing pot.” Drugs destroy families. San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano's spokesman, Quintin Mecke, is quoted as saying, “It's time to have a rational drug policy.” It is not rational to promote laws that destroy families and then use the money to support our government's irresponsible management of our tax dollars.

DEBRA PITTA-GILLY
Spring Valley

Let's see, people are being murdered on both sides of the border, our prisons are overcrowded mainly due to Americans' demand for drugs, and we have been pumping billions of dollars into the “War Against Drugs” for 40 years. And yet, Americans seem to still acquire their drug of choice and, in fact, demand their fix! Sounds like America needs to pull its head out of the sand.

It took only about 14 years of Prohibition (gang violence) before they figured out it didn't work. Don't stop with the legalization of marijuana; legalize all of it, tax it and use the revenue to work with those who have problems. Learn from our Prohibition experience and don't put too high a tax on it, as this only encourages the black market.

HOMER EUBANKS
San Marcos

Finding right words for 'global warming'

Regarding “Global warming? Use new words, consultants say / Term said to have a liberal image” (News, May 2):

While it is extremely frustrating that wording makes such a difference for so many people, I think it's important that we listen to such studies. Although a rose called “garbage” would smell just as sweet, perhaps we wouldn't see so many on Valentine's Day. Whatever we call it, it's most important to do it, and what's really important is to set a price for carbon.

Only when we truly value the toll that fossil fuels take on our health and our deteriorating atmosphere will we be able to really fix our economy and our planet. Whether it is by a “carbon tax,” a “cap and cash back” or a “pollution reduction refund” apparently does matter, but not as much as actually doing it.

DANIEL RICHTER
La Jolla

New words and careful phrases make a difference with convincing people, but our children would not be so impressed if we sat on our hands and refused to act because things weren't phrased correctly. Let's be real when we have to, and let's be smart when we need to be. Global warming is happening, and our atmosphere is deteriorating, but these ideas need not conjure up images of hippies and expense.

As a community, we need clean jobs and a robust economy, and dealing with climate change the right way can make these happen. We need a transparent way to price carbon that involves 100 percent of the economy and doesn't include giveaways so that our businesses can bank on it and create the new technology and jobs that will fuel the next economic boom. The cost of inaction is too high. We need to act now.